Wednesday, October 22, 2008

I saw this email as I was clearing my mailbox and I would like to share it with you all. It reminds me of my grandmother who has passed away many years back. It also reminds me of my childhood days, where we treasured every moment as we gathered every weekend at my grandparents' place.

Ever since they both passed away, the gathering time is only left to Chinese New Year period, weddings of my cousins or special occasions. :(( Really miss those days.....

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I was privileged to take a photo of 'Five Generations of Women' shortly before my 93 year-old Grandmother passed away last year. The photo, shown below, features the hands of my Grandmother, Mom, Sister, Niece and Great-Niece. While I can't take credit for the idea, I was so happy to have had the suggestion & capture this moment. It inspired a friend of mine to do something similar which turned out so beautiful and a special keepsake prior to her father's passing.

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,' she said in a clear voice strong..

'I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,' I explained to her.

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

'Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

'They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.

They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

'They have been dirty, scraped and raw , swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son.

Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special

They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.

'They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

'These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.

But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of God.'

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

It hurts me to see people who lost their savings due to bad investment caused by bad advice from blood thirst bank officers or screwd financial planners. No doubt that bank officers and financial planner should not have squander away the trust that their customers place on them. However on the other hand, one should make it a point to do some reading up to understand the market. I realised long time ago that to achieve riches and wealth, one has to put in the effort to upgrade our knowledge.

This relevation comes about a couple of years ago, when I started to read books published by Robert Kiyosaki - "Rich Dad, Poor Dad". I was completely mesmerized by what Robert has written and it just coincided with my beliefs and desires. Although there is news that said that this book is frictional but then again, the essence is widely written by many other great authors and motivators like Napolean Hill, Anthony Robbins and many others.

Maybe I strongly believed in myself making the difference, instead of waiting for some huge windfalls. I believed that financial well-being is everyone's own personal interest and should not leave it to someone else. Not that I dun trust people, but that there are some conflicts of interest in the whole transactions. Why can't people see it?

Monday, October 20, 2008

Is it really a bliss to have nothing to do at work? I bet many of you will be glad to be paid for not doing much. Hey I won't mind if I get to do things like surfing internet or watching some online movies. But nope, one usually dun have this luxury unless you are Paris Hilton - heiress to great fortune in family business. Usually one have to have their work performance appraised by their superiors. So to not to do anything is really not a wise thing to do.

Therefore what do you do? You try to make yourself look busy, by walking here and there, poking your nose into colleagues cubicles or instead of calling, you just drop by to your colleagues cubicles only to find them not around. Or you have to busy typing away on god knows what, which is exactly what I am doing now and yes I am really bored to death with not much work to do.

Maybe I am still in honeymoon period, where my workload will slowly catch up. So I guess I have to savour this while it is still available. But nonetheless I still have to make myself busy, otherwise I would have doze off in front of my desktop now. Opps… I just dozed off. I can't believe myself dozing off like this.

I sure hope that tomorrow will be a busier day. Ciao…. back to pretending to have lots of work to do.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Finally I got a new job and this time I will want to make sure that I will work here long. After so many years of trial and error, I think I have finally settled down and decided what I really one.

Gee... it's been like 2 weeks without work and it really feel like months have gone by. So I am kind of nervous to start work next week. But at the same time, I can't wait to start work and get back my daily routine.

All of the sudden, I feel all rejuvenated, like having a new life. Why am I feeling this? I do not know, but nonetheless it feels good and I hope to keep this feeling going on for a long long time.

On top of this, I got a new direction. I want to set up my own online shop. I know this is going to be tough but at least this is my dream all these while - to be my own boss, to have a business in my name. When I was young, I still remember myself drawing a building where my relatives each have a flat to stay in. So to get there, I have to be very very rich to be able to achieve that and having business is what I see as the solution.

Anyway here it goes. Just work hard towards the goal and see what life brings.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

The last time I went to China Shenzhen, I have not met or seen any case like these. I sure hope this is not true, as I would like to travel to China again soon and these pictures dun give the security that I'm so comfortable in Singapore.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

In this world, everybody is rushing and chasing for the money....Some people fighting and killing each others just because of money...In Zimbabwe , all the peoples having a lot of money but they're poor....WHY ??500 million note, just printed in May 2008.....everybody can have it....maybe just nice for 1 breakfast/lunch (equal to about USD 2)Everybody is billionaire..........To buy food in plastic packet.......you have to spend at least 10 millionTo buy vegetables......5 millionTo buy eggs........6000 millionTo buy chicken.....how many million ?

If you want to eat in restaurant, please prepare the money.........

After eat have to drinks..............

After getting monthly salary.........you need to rent a taxi or lorry to bring back the money.....

Young kid....already become millionaire

If don't want to carry a lot of money..this is the way....change it to USDNobody want to count the money, just weight it.......

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer.It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.

A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send the link to a friend.. It could save a life. So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

It's really creeping to think how depression can do to a person. And the worst thing is you won't know when it hits you. Saw this article online (see full story here) and recall an experience I had.

Though I have not consult a doctor on my condition, but I do suspect that I have suffered from depression once probably a few years ago back. Can't recall the exact time, maybe I just want to forget it. Anyway I had a really terrible time at work - had a nasty boss who is very stingy and picks on you. I really hated work and I can't sleep well, always feel like crying and even throwing temper around.

Luckily I have my boyfriend (now my husband) which keeps on counsel me and give me encouragement. I must say I'm lucky and I also learn to relax myself, always remind myself to not take work too seriously.